1987 ALFA ROMEO SPIDER

Typical onset: every 30,000-40,000 mi or 5 years

Symptoms: sudden loss of power, rough running or no-start, metallic rattling from engine, bent valves confirmed by compression test

Fix: Interference engine means broken timing belt destroys valves and sometimes pistons. Prevention requires religious 30k-mile belt changes. If it fails, expect cylinder head removal, valve replacement, and possible piston damage. 12-18 labor hours for full repair including head work.

Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: heavy knocking on cold start, low oil pressure at idle, metallic rattling that worsens under load, metal shavings in oil

Fix: These twin-cams need 20W-50 and religious 3k-mile changes. Owners running modern thin oils or stretching intervals kill bearings. Once knocking starts, it's full engine teardown for crank polishing or replacement, all bearings, and machine work. 20-28 labor hours for proper rebuild.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000

Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: grinding when shifting into 2nd or 3rd, difficulty engaging gears when cold, requires double-clutching to avoid crunch, pops out of 2nd gear under load

Fix: The 5-speed gearbox has brass synchros that wear from aggressive shifting and lack of fluid changes. Full transmission rebuild with synchro replacement requires gearbox removal. 10-14 labor hours including clutch inspection while it's out.

Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive drivetrain movement during acceleration, clunking when shifting or letting off throttle, vibration at idle that changes when shifting to gear, visible engine sag when inspecting from below

Fix: Rubber mounts deteriorate badly after 15-20 years. Failed mounts cause driveline lash and can crack exhaust components. Replacing all mounts (typically 4-5 points) requires supporting engine and transmission. 4-6 labor hours for complete mount refresh.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Symptoms: hard starting after sitting, rough idle and hesitation, stalling when hot, fuel smell from degraded rubber lines

Fix: These sit a lot and suffer from old gas varnishing carbs or injection system. Fuel filter clogs easily on neglected cars. Regular filter changes (every 15k) and fuel system cleaning prevent most issues. Also replace aging fuel hoses every 5-7 years. 2-3 labor hours for filter and basic system service.

Estimated cost: $200-500

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: overheating episodes, white smoke from exhaust, coolant loss with no external leaks, oil contamination in coolant or vice versa

Fix: Overheating from neglected cooling system warps the aluminum head. Once gasket fails, head must be removed and machined flat. Often find cracked head on high-mileage examples. 14-18 labor hours including timing belt replacement while apart.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Symptoms: intermittent no-start, gauges reading erratically, lights dimming or flickering, poor charging despite new alternator

Fix: Italian electrics plus 35+ years equals corroded connections everywhere. Most issues trace to bad grounds behind dash and on engine block. Systematic cleaning and dielectric grease application fixes 80% of problems. 3-5 labor hours for thorough electrical restoration.

Estimated cost: $300-700